Wednesday, August 29, 2012

How I love the outdoors all year long,
but especially during flower season.
I would be amiss if I didn't visit the garden
with you just for awhile.
So here are a few scenes from my garden.
The garden has changed some this year,
as we removed a large tree in the front of the house.
In it's place we planted a prune plum tree and
what you see is the one lone plum on the tree.
We also planted a Gravenstein apple tree and
had one delicious apple from it.
The sunflowers were a gift from god planted by the birds.
My husband (the live in gardener) loves it when that happens.
We have tomatoes growing and one corn stalk growing
in the flower garden, also gifts from god.
And pumpkins are everywhere this year.
They will be pure delight later this fall.
Now that is something to look forward to
as the morning is beginning to cool.
Roses, roses, roses - Oh do we love the roses.
Twelve new ones were added to the garden this year.
Can't wait to see how they flourish and grow next year.
Hope you enjoyed a short visit to my garden.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Saturday at the Oregon State Fair
there was the Specialty Tea Competition and The Amazing Scone Baking Race
with King Arthur flour.

Sitting on the panel of judges we tasted tea for about 2 hours,
I was sure I could never drink tea
again at least not until the next morning.
All the teas and scones this year were just lovely,
which made judging a challenge.

The winning scone recipe was Mango Ginger Scones.
Just delicious!

The judges from left to right were: Charity Chalmers of Charitea in Sandy, Oregon,
Jan Ellis, coordinator for WuWo Tea Ceremony and very knowledgeable in tea,
and myself, owner of Marmalady's.

The winners:
The top scores for tea came from the Tea Zone, Grant Cull and Jhanne Jasmine.
On the left for her Mango Ginger Scone and Cranberry Almond Scone was Rinatta Stanko.
In the middle was Heidi Chase and Tracy Bosnian from Possibili-Tea,
Jennifer Peterson (coordinating the event)
On the right was Kathi Karnosh, she made a delicious Maple Glazed Bacon Brickle Scone.

This was my second year as a judge.
It is quite fun, but who knew it would be exhausting to taste so many cups of tea and
nibble on so many delicious scones.
Not your normal afternoon of sharing tea and scones with a friend.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

The morning air has a crispness of the coming of Autumn.
Not that I don't want to hold onto Summer a bit longer,
but there is something invigorating about the coolness of the morning air.
Recently I visited a new pastry shop in town.
You know I always have to check out a new place for macarons.
The colors just sang to me of Autumn.
I have heard the colors of Autumn will be more colorful jewel tones
and these colors just fit in with that feel.
Aren't they pretty?
So citrusy and regal!
What are you noticing today?
Are the colors of the changing season beginning to appear?
Enjoy the weekend and take time to notice what you notice.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Tea last week while visiting the beach was at La Tea Da in Tillamook, Oregon.
Jim informed me that I hadn't taken him there in my previous visits,
so off we went to the beach.
You see behind Jim, do you notice any men?
Not a one was to be seen.
Maybe it is too girly for most men,
but they don't know what they are missing with the attention
and the food. Jim knows, so he goes.
Women, take your man to tea, he might just enjoy it.
Jim does and recommends it.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Why I don't mention books here, I don't know.
They are a big part of my life.
I love books!
I can't sleep at night if I haven't read a page or two (when really tired)
or many chapters (when captured by the story).
Do you love books?
Do you read with a book in hand or a reading device?
Which do you prefer?
But most of all what are you enjoying these days?
I picked up an oldie recently and enjoying Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg.
Wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but I am.
Take a book to bed tonight and enjoy!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The first time I visited Oswald West beach my children were young.
They immediately named it Gnome Beach.
Can you tell why?
For many years I didn't even know the real name as we
always referred to it as Gnome Beach.
Walking through this forest, listening to the water trickle through the woods,
enjoying the sun dapple through the trees,
and stepping into the arms of these old growth trees is pure delight.
If you ever visit Oregon, you must put a stop here on your list.
It is a treasure that even some Oregonians don't realize is just there at the door to partake.
I hope you enjoyed my walk through the trees and the peak at the ocean last Friday.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Friday, August 17, 2012

If you have been reading Delights of the Heart for awhile you will know I delight (LOVE) in the ocean.
Yesterday was 100 degrees in Portland, so it was decided that a day at the beach would be a good thing.
My favorite beach is Oswald West in Oregon.
It is about a 15 minute hike through the most beautiful old growth forest I have ever seen and then
the beach is there in all it's beauty. What could be better?
Normally we visit the beach on off season when it is rather quiet,
but found that on a hot day in Portland there were a lot of others that had the same idea.

The clouds sat just off shore, but on the beach the weather was perfect, even for a little tea drinking.
Take time this weekend to find the perfect place to celebrate summer and all the you love.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Laundry day is one of my favorite days.
I just love seeing the laundry hanging on the line.
Yes, the party is over, but really it is just beginning.
The tablecloths have been washed
and soon will be ironed.
As I iron I will be thinking of the next time I
share food and conversation over these beauties.
Will it be with tea or maybe a special celebration again?

Using special linens or plates creates memories.
The next time I bring them out I will remember
previous delights of sharing.
Do you remember when you bring out a special
teacup, linen, or plate?
Or maybe someone special gave you this delight
and you have time to reflect on the person these once
belonged to?

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Sunday my husband and I had the honor and pleasure of being invited to a special party.
Someone I think is very special had inherited her family farm house and property.
After much cleaning, gardening, and decorating she wanted a party to
reclaim the spirit of the place.
It was amazing to see about 200 people dance, eat, and fellowship together
with great JOY and celebration.

What touched me and gave me great delight was the opportunity to visit her father's
art studio. The top picture is just a glimpse.
When I stepped into this room it was stepping back in time and feeling
the heart of this man as he painted here.
It was the same feeling I had when I stepped into the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris.
You can just feel the creative spirit permeating the place.
I had seen prints of the painting in the second photo, but to see the original just sitting there sang to my heart.
Have you ever stepped into a room and just felt the presence of someone very special?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Sandy River in Oregon probably has other sand bars,
but the one located at Oxbow Park has a special tradition.
Each winter the sand bar is reconstructed and wiped clean.
Then in the Spring the "Rock Lady" comes again and begins
constructing rock cairns.
Occasionally she also likes to skinny dip in the river to refresh herself
for the journey of building these very special formations.
Those that visit here regularly know her and come just to see
her creativity.

Oh yes, she does play.

They give me delight and a smile to see.

This pair is just enjoying the sunshine and the water nearby.

There are thousands of them congregating here.
A rock concert perhaps?

Perhaps a meeting is taking place here?

Is this one a mama, papa, and child?

What do you like to do to just play?
I hope you have plans to play this weekend.
Sending hugs and great playful JOY.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Tea enjoyed this week was a gift from a Kentucky friend.
Appropriately it is an Elmwood Inn tea, which is also located in Kentucky.
This was a lovely black tea, just perfect for my early morning pot of tea.
It has just a hint of smokiness so nice in a black tea.
This morning it sat in a newly acquired teacup found on etsy.com.
The cup says "Spode's Tower" Copeland, England.
The cozy, also, made in England, was found several years ago
at an antique market in a village in the Cotswold's.

How are you enjoying your tea these mornings?
Is it in a special cup?
or maybe a gift from a friend?

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

When I learned I would be a grandmother I knew there would be one more quilt to be made.
Here is the final product of creativity for my grandson coming in September.
I hope he feels the LOVE sewn into this special covering as he snuggles underneath.
It was pure JOY to stitch this little bunny, joyfully swinging from the balloon string.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

About Me

Many things bring great delight to me: tea, gardens, flowers, outdoors, food, and friends that cross my path. These all make my heart sing with small chuckles, giggles, laughter, and tears. It is my desire to seek beauty all around me, have the heart of a wanderer, a storyteller.

Asso. of Tea Bloggers

PNW Bloggers

Books Read

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa DiffenbaughA Fine Romance by Susan BranchTea Shop Mysteries by Laura ChildsLost Lake by Sarah Addison AllanThe House at Riverton by Kate MortonThe Secret Keeper by Kate MortonWithout Reservations by Alice SteinbachA Week in Winter by Marcia WillettEight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney OttoTarnished Beauty by Cecilia SamartinThe Time in Between by Maria DuenasThe Orchid House by Lucinda RileyThe Lavender Garden by Lucinda RileyBroken Paradise by Cecilia SamartinKindred Spirits by Sarah StrohmeyerA Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

Pray for Cancer Cure

Dear God,I pray for the cure of cancer.AmenIn memory of dear friends:Adrienne and Linda